It is recognized that historically two sub-species of black bear inhabited Texas. The American black bear (Ursus americanus americanus) occurred throughout most of west and central Texas, and the Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) ranged throughout East Texas. Currently, the status of the Louisiana black bear in East Texas is unknown; however, bear sightings are on the rise and their interactions with the public are expected to increase in the future. With this in mind, a committee of stakeholders comprised of representatives from state, federal, and private entities collaborated to develop the East Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan.
Black bears (Ursus americanus) are a part of the heritage of Texas. Historically, black bears were widely distributed throughout all major eco-regions in Texas prior to Anglo-American colonization in 1820 (Hall 1981). Numerous historic accounts refer to black bears as being common and widespread in East Texas. Black bears inhabited the forests of East Texas at the time when settlers established towns in the early to mid 1800s. Black bears disappeared first from the western, northern, and southern parts of the region during the period from 1850 to 1890. Their last strongholds in East Texas were in the swamps and thickets of the Big Thicket Region of southeast Texas. The majority of the remaining bears were exterminated from this area during the period between 1900 to 1940, with the possible exception of a few individuals in the Big Thicket of Hardin County, and in the dense woods of Matagorda County, where they were sighted in the 1940’s.
Today, black bears are returning to their historic range in Texas. Since 1977, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has documented black bear sightings and mortalities in Texas. Observations in the 1990s indicate the return of a few black bears to the remote forests of East Texas, primarily composed of transient, solitary males. There is no current evidence of a resident breeding population of black bears in East Texas; however, increased sightings combined with bear recovery and range expansion in bordering Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma will increase bear occurrence and activity in East Texas in the next ten years. A comprehensive black bear conservation and management plan for East Texas is essential to prepare state and federal Agencies as well as landowners and the public for that possibility. It is unlikely that long-lasting bear conservation can be achieved without public and political support, particularly within neighboring human communities in the forests of East Texas where people will strive to co-exist with the return of black bears.
The Houston Zoo has partnered with the East Texas Black Bear Task Force and the Black Bear Conservation Committee in the development of educational outreach and awareness programs related to Black Bears in the East Texas region. These programs include:
- Bear Awareness Campaign, public education and outreach programs
- Identify and evaluate suitable Black Bear habitat in the East Texas region
- Hunter education and safety programs
- Promote forested habitat and landscape protection in East Texas and prevention of further fragmentation.
The Black Bear can be found in small numbers within the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas and individuals may be moving back into previous habitat in East Texas along the Louisiana and Arkansas borders. The future of this Texas native depends on protection of vital habit and public education and awareness programs.
